MASTERS TOURNAMENT

April 6, 2026

Bubba Watson

Quick Quotes

Q. How was the walk this morning?

BUBBA WATSON: It was beautiful. It was weird because I was expecting more people. I know it's Monday, but I was expecting more people. When I say people, golfers. I didn't really see many people, which was weird.

I thought maybe I was on the wrong day or something. I didn't know what was going on. I went out early just so I could work on the greens and work on chipping a little bit.

Saturday was a little slower than we were used to, and then today was more tournament speed.

Q. It doesn't get old; how's the game and what's your outlook for the week?

BUBBA WATSON: The game I believe is good. I'm not worried about what my results were the beginning of the year. I was so focused on this, trying to get my clubs ready for this. It comes down to putting and chipping. The people that play good around here have to putt and chip. Everybody can hit fairways around here so you've got to putt and chip around here.

Q. Another strong Bulldog contingent including Mason. What do you know about his game, and to be out here as a guy who hasn't even graduated high school yet?

BUBBA WATSON: Yeah, exactly. I know about his game. His game is phenomenal. Looking forward to saying hey to him. I don't know NCAA rules, so I'm not allowed to hang out with people. I don't know the rules anymore. You couldn't hang out with people back then. Now you can get money I guess.

Q. I don't think there are rules.

BUBBA WATSON: Exactly. They've given up. Everybody is professional now.

I'm looking forward to seeing him. I love that the Bulldogs have some good talent. It's going to be fun out here. I was talking to some guys. We need more Bulldogs in the field; I think we've got six.

Q. What do you typically tell somebody that's young that's making their debut here?

BUBBA WATSON: Just enjoy it. If you get lucky, and I'm being honest, if you get lucky enough to win this place, more than likely it's going to be later. It won't be the first time. There's very few that's won it the first time. But talent can take over and anybody can win because they're good enough to get here, they're good enough to win. Just enjoy it.

You want your first one to be, just enjoy it, take it all in, try to learn some things and get ready for the next time you come around here.

Q. If you had an opportunity to talk to Tiger, what would you say to him in terms of encouragement maybe?

BUBBA WATSON: So I've always been -- I could care less about Tiger's golf. I've always been in his ear. I told him that I wanted to be here for his next major. I was here in '19. We were in the champions locker and I made a lot of the champions come down to congratulate him. That was very emotional.

I told him from day one that we started hanging out back in '06, '07, somewhere in there, that I'm pulling for him as a human being, forget his golf, I could care less about his golf.

Anybody that's struggling with anything, I feel for him because I've went through a lot of mental stuff. So yeah, I always pull for him. I don't have his phone number anymore. He blocks me because I make fun of him all the time.

But yes, when we were on the Ryder Cup captaincy together, he told me how much that meant that I was here in '19 -- sorry, when I was here in '19 the next week after he won, he was very appreciative that I was here, and I told him I'd be here for the majors. Nothing but love for him, and hopefully he can come back stronger.